Three Million at Risk of Famine in Sudan

More than 3 million people in Sudan are threatened by famine and thousands could die by July, the U.N. World Food Program warned Thursday.

A severe drought has added to the misery caused by an 18-year civil war and previous famines that have left 2 million dead and more than 4 million others displaced, said Masood Hyder, the WFP's representative in Sudan during a news conference in London.

Food supplies have shrunk as the drought has caused rivers and dams to run dry, he said. Most Sudanese have cut down to one meal a day, and the typical dry season ¡ª April to October ¡ª has not even begun yet.

The northern states of Darfur and Kordofan face the worst drought, although the lack of rain has also hit the south. In Eastern Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Jonglei regions, the ongoing civil war has aggravated the situation, Hyder said.

Hyder said the WFP is making an international appeal to governments worldwide for $135 million. It takes about three months to get aid to people in Sudan so it is critical that governments respond now, he said.






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